"Once, when a British Prime Minister sneezed, men half a world away would blow their noses. Now when a British Prime Minister sneezes nobody else will even say 'Bless You'"

Bernard Levin's quote poignantly highlights the shift in worldwide influence and authority historically wielded by British Prime Ministers. The imagery of a sneeze, an involuntary and mundane human action, is used to signify a time when British political decisions held considerable sway over worldwide affairs. When Levin states that "men half a world away would blow their noses", he is suggesting that the actions or policies of a British leader were as soon as so influential that they prompted responses or modifications in far-off parts of the world. This metaphor can be understood to show the period of the British Empire, when its power and reach were exceptional. British political, financial, and cultural practices often set precedents that other nations felt compelled to follow.

However, Levin contrasts this past scenario with today, stating that "now when a British Prime Minister sneezes, no one else will even say 'Bless You'". Here, the Prime Minister's sneeze generates no response, representing a significant decrease in Britain's global impact. This talks to the geopolitical modifications that occurred post-World War II, where the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers, and the British Empire began to decolonize, leading to reduced global authority for the UK. The statement "nobody else will even say 'Bless You'" includes an element of neglect or irrelevance, recommending that Britain's modern choices might no longer command the respect, attention, or obligatory reaction that they as soon as did.

This reflective observation by Levin not only critiques the loss of political influence but likewise calls for introspection on how nations progress with time. It serves as a pointer of the transient nature of power and the requirement for nations to adapt and redefine their functions within an ever-changing worldwide landscape. In essence, it is a commentary on the difficult truths of maintaining significance and impact in a dynamic international arena.